Tuesday, September 9, 2008

1961 Stamp from Israel

In Jewish tradition the two fishes of the Pisces zodiacal sign represent the two months of Adar in a leap year. 

Designer: I Blaushild

The Hebrew calendar is synchronized with the astronomical calendar by adding a month (to Adar) seven times every nineteen years.

Picture is courtesy of Hayim Shtayer and the stamp is from his collection. 

Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov claims in his book (Sefer HaTodaah, 1997 of p. 244) that the sign of Adar is Pisces because in this month the fishes multiply in the rivers and in the lakes. It is a blessed sign because the fishes are not seen, and thus are not effected by evil eye. Even in the Flood the fishes didn’t die because they didn’t sin, and because they don’t copulate with another species. The people of Israel resemble the fishes because they live in the Torah, which resembles water [the ocean of the Torah]. In this month Moses was born and the Torah is called after him: Torah of Moses. In this month the Israelites re-committed themselves to live by the rules of the Torah in the days of Mordechai and Ester. Jacob blessed Joseph (genesis 48:16): And may they grow [like fishes] into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

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